ECAndersson Calypso II from Sweden –
After taking a break from the last two years of the pandemic, ECAndersson Watch Co returns with a successor to its diving watch with a new model. We present Calypso II.
Press release material with commentary in italics.
ECAndersson Calypso II – a new model from Sweden
Comment
The watch is inspired by the famous marine explorer Jacques Costeau, and is named after RV Calypso, a former minesweeper from the British Royal Navy who was transformed into a research vessel for oceanographic research for the use of Cousteau. The British millionaire and former MP (MP), Thomas Loel Guinness bought Calypso in July 1950. He rented her out to Cousteau for a symbolic one franc a year. He had two conditions: that Cousteau never asks him for money and that he never reveals his identity, which only came out after Cousteau’s death. Cousteau restructured and transformed the ship into an expeditionary vessel and support base for diving, filming and oceanographic research. She was seriously injured in 1996 and was scheduled to undergo a complete renovation in 2009-2011. The ship is named after the Greek mythological figure Calypso.
The brand began in 2016 when it launched a rugged sports watch called the North Sea, which was followed by the North Sea II. Both watches have a recognizable pillow-shaped case. The movement was Cal.ECANE01 and is based on Seiko NE57. Calypso II is equipped with their M9000 movement, which is claimed to be manufactured internally. We can not verify this statement. Their website shows the details they go into to make the rotor, from a process that looks like enamel is applied to the relief engravings and then polished to show just the blue enamel.
The readability looks very good, because the watch is designed to be very simple. Scandinavian design principles are clearly visible in the design, with simple, clean lines that look good. It has a pretty beautiful textured blue dial, with a sporty look. While ECAndersson also says how the dial is made, we risk guessing that the pattern is stamped on the dial. Still, it looks amazing. The case is surface-treated in highly polished side by side with a sandblasted matt finish. The finish from the photographs we got looks well made. The highly polished frame bevels and the flat surfaces of the casing in a matte finish. The watch is not ISO certified for diving, as it does not have a one-way rotating frame. The case and frame shape are a bit reminiscent of many of the ultra-popular sports watches in steel, and the water resistance of the Calypso II is also very similar to 120m.
The pricing is ultimately very fair $ 640 for the limited edition. However, the catch is also that for every 20 watches ordered, the next batch will have a higher price. ECAndersson does not specify what this increase will be.
Release information
Calypso II is designed to be durable and versatile. The screwed-down crown, 120 m waterproofness, sapphire crystal and regulated automatic movement make this piece perfect for an active lifestyle. It is limited to 140 pieces worldwide, only available in a “Pre-order special” on ecandersson.com
Calypso II is a sophisticated and equally versatile sports watch that fits perfectly into ECAndersson’s catalog. All the company’s watches are made with the demanding activity of sea sailing in mind, which means that the watches will have to withstand harsh temperatures, salt water and fluctuating light conditions.
As always with ECA sports watches, its DNA comes to life through the use of clear lines, solid construction and a mix of polished and sandblasted surfaces. Not to mention the use of a Power Reserve indicator, which is cleverly placed between the 9 ‘and 10’ hour markers to preserve the dial’s symmetry.
The sea blue dial has a 3D-textured “Single line” pattern: A collection of symbols used in coastal navigation, which in a suitable way resembles hourglass and serves as the basis for ECAndersson’s logo. Above it we are presented with applied indices that are mirror polished all the way around and filled with SuperLuminova on the cardinal markers 12, 3, 6 and 9. A framed date wheel is visible on 3 ‘.
The characteristic heel design of 18 mm inside width, leaves a minimal gap between the strap and the bell head, which gives an integrated look no matter which strap you decide to attach to the Calypso II. The heels are wide, giving the 39 mm watch case a subtle masculine look and rounded to ensure maximum comfort on the wrist.
Hitting inside is an automatic movement based on the M9000 series, a reliable machine that ECAndersson embraces for its superior durability compared to its competitors. It has Parashock system, which absorbs external forces and preserves mechanical integrity during demanding activities. In addition, the staff at ECA personally regulate each movement to ensure the correct timing of each individual watch before delivery.
Calypso II is limited to 140 pieces worldwide and is expected to sell out during pre-orders. If you order early, the watch may be yours too 640 USD, a price that increases for every 20th order until the listing price is reached. Order now to become one of the owners, at www.ecandersson.com